WEBVTT TYLER: TOWN OFFICIALS SAY PEOPLE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE TOWN WERE GOING DOOR TO DOOR IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS WITH PAPERWORK TO FILL OUT FOR FOLKS TO GET ABSENTEE BALLOTS. BUT THERE WAS CONFUSION AFTERWARD WHEN SOME OF THOSE BALLOTS WEREN’T RECEIVED. >> WE’RE NOT CONCERNED NECESSARILY THAT IT IS A SCAM AT THIS POINT. WE WERE PUTTING IT OUT THERE TO PEOPLE SAYING BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU’RE GIVING OUT. TYLER: YARMOUTH POLICE WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR ERRORS IF THEY DON’T GET ABSENTEE BALLOTS DIRECTLY FROM THE TOWN. >> THE TOWN WAS CONCERNED THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE IF THOSE BALLOTS ARE NOT RECEIVED. TYLER: THEY SAY THE DOOR-TO-DOOR CAMPAIGN ISN’T ILLEGAL. BUT WITH ABSENTEE VOTING BECOMING MORE COMMON, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THERE ARE RISKS INVOLVED IF THE INFO ISN’T RELAYED PROPERLY. >> WE’VE DEFINITELY SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE WAY THAT ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE REQUESTED THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS. TYLER: SOUTH PORTLAND CITY CLERK EMILY SCULLY HAS NOTICED MORE OF A PUSH FOR ABSENTEE VOTING NOW THAT REQUESTS CAN BE MADE EASILY ONLINE. THERE’S ALSO THE FLEXIBILITY THAT COMES WITH VOTING IN ADVANCE. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO ABSENTEE VOTE NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE THERE ON ELECTION DAY BUT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TAKE TIME, ENOUGH TIME TO RESEARCH EVERYTHING. TYLER: THIS YEAR IN MAINE, DEMOCRATS ARE REQUESTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS AT NEARLY TWICE THE RATE OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS. AND WITH ELECTION DAY FAST APPROACHING, OFFICIALS SAY THE BEST WAY TO MAKE SURE YOUR BALLOT GETS IN ON TIME IS TO GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS WITH THE TOWN EITHER ONLINE OR BY STOPPING IN IN P

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Maine Dems hold absentee ballot advantage as election looms

Democrats outnumber Republicans in Maine

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Updated: 5:14 PM EDT Oct 24, 2018

Democrats are outpacing Republicans when it comes to absentee voting in Maine.All told, nearly 100,000 absentee ballots had been requested as of this week. An analysis by The Associated Press indicates Democrats accounted for 45 percent of requests, Republicans 27 percent and unenrolled voters 25 percent.Those track roughly with returned ballots with less than two weeks to Election Day: 19,470 for Democrats, 12,965 for Republicans and 10,708 for unenrolled voters.Democrats outnumber Republicans in Maine, so they have a natural edge.But the absentee ballot numbers were much closer four years ago in an election in which Republican Gov. Paul LePage won a second term.There is no early voting in Maine. Absentee ballot can be cast ahead of time but they're not tallied until Election Day.

AUGUSTA, Maine —

Democrats are outpacing Republicans when it comes to absentee voting in Maine.

All told, nearly 100,000 absentee ballots had been requested as of this week. An analysis by The Associated Press indicates Democrats accounted for 45 percent of requests, Republicans 27 percent and unenrolled voters 25 percent.

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Those track roughly with returned ballots with less than two weeks to Election Day: 19,470 for Democrats, 12,965 for Republicans and 10,708 for unenrolled voters.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in Maine, so they have a natural edge.

But the absentee ballot numbers were much closer four years ago in an election in which Republican Gov. Paul LePage won a second term.

There is no early voting in Maine. Absentee ballot can be cast ahead of time but they're not tallied until Election Day.